This Common Food Increases Your Risk, Study Warns

Type 2 diabetes affects nearly 3.5 million people in France. This disease is characterized by a excess blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia. Lack of physical activity and being overweight are risk factors. Recently, a new British study is sounding the alarm: regular consumption of ultra-processed foods significantly increases the risk of developing this disease.

This study, conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, and relayed by Current Womanreveals that “each 10% increase in quantity ultra-processed foods in a person’s diet is linked to a 17% increased risk of type 2 diabetes.”

Common foods that are dangerous to your health

Ultra-processed foods are ubiquitous in our supermarkets and kitchens. They include products such as prepared meals, salty snacks, sweets, industrial desserts or even sugary drinks and artificially sweetened. The researchers, whose results are published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europestudied the eating habits of more than 311,000 people over an average period of 10.9 years. Their findings are clear: The more ultra-processed foods you consume, the greater your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The researchers observed that within this large panel of participants, 14,236 people developed type 2 diabetes during the follow-up. The study highlights in particular that the products most increasing the risks of this disease are “salty snacks, animal products such as processed meats, prepared meals and sugary or artificially sweetened beverages.”

A modifiable risk

The good news is that this risk can be reduced by changing your eating habits. According to researchers, “This risk can be reduced by consuming less processed foods.” These include, for example, eggs, milk, fruit or even simple culinary ingredients such as butter, oil and salt.

By classifying foods according to the NOVA classification, experts were able to observe the differences in impact on health. They distinguish four categories: unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and finally ultra-processed foods, which are the most worrying for health. It is this last category that has shown the most significant links with the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Why are ultra-processed foods so harmful?

Although researchers are not yet able to precisely define the mechanism by which ultra-processed foods increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, they put forward several hypotheses. Among them, overconsumption of calories and weight gain are often singled out. Indeed, ultra-processed foods are generally very rich in sugars, fats and additives, elements that promote obesity, a major risk factor for diabetes.

In a press release, Professor Marc Gunter of Imperial College London points out that even if this study does not establish a direct cause and effect link, “It suggests that reducing the consumption of certain ultra-processed foods and replacing them with whole, unprocessed foods could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.”

Passionate about women’s news, Agathe has been deciphering the latest trends for aufeminin since 2022. Her favorite areas? Psychology, nutrition and well-being advice, not to mention tips…